FATE REWRITTEN.....

13. A Season of Study and Smiles

           As the mock exams drew near, Soobin and Yeonjun shifted their focus entirely to studying, turning Soobin's apartment into a makeshift library. Textbooks, notebooks, and countless reference books piled up on their desks, yet their concentration remained unwavering.

Soobin's natural attentiveness in class made him a natural when it came to studying. With his sharp intellect, he had an uncanny ability to grasp complex concepts almost instantly, absorbing information like a sponge. Even without formal notes, he could recall formulas and theories with ease, his understanding almost effortless. He knew he'd ace the exams; his only concern was making sure Yeonjun felt equally prepared.

Yeonjun, on the other hand, approached studying differently. Despite not always catching every detail in class, he had a knack for figuring things out on his own, pouring over books until each subject made sense. Whenever he hit a tricky question, Soobin was right there, patiently explaining concepts, breaking down formulas, and sharing shortcuts he had learned. And although they were both laser-focused on their studies, they never missed a chance to glance up and catch each other's eyes, a silent exchange that kept them grounded even amid the exam stress.

Their study sessions often stretched late into the night, with Soobin and Yeonjun taking turns ensuring each other ate properly and stayed hydrated. Their quiet care for one another continued, woven into every small gesture.

One evening, after hours of reviewing questions and solving problems, Soobin finally surrendered to his exhaustion. He fell asleep right there at the study table, his head resting on folded arms, his face softened in sleep. Yeonjun looked up from his notebook, noticing Soobin's even breaths and the slight rise and fall of his shoulders. For a moment, he simply watched, struck by how peaceful Soobin looked.

Unable to resist, Yeonjun quietly grabbed his phone from the table and, with a soft smile, took a quick selfie of the two of them—Soobin still sound asleep.

Yeonjun’s heart fluttered as he admired the picture, the serene expression on Soobin’s face capturing a side of him that Yeonjun cherished. He knew he’d never get tired of moments like this.

Yeonjun leaned over, reaching a gentle hand to brush a strand of hair from Soobin's face. His fingers lingered on Soobin's cheek, feeling the warmth of his skin under his touch. He found himself smiling, his heart skipping a beat as he took in Soobin's sleeping features. After a moment, he whispered, "Soobin-ah, wake up. You'll get a crick in your neck if you sleep like this."

Soobin stirred, blinking sleepily as he registered Yeonjun's voice and gentle touch. "Hmm... what?" he murmured, still half-asleep.

"Come on," Yeonjun said softly, his fingers still lingering at the edge of Soobin's cheek. "Let's go to bed." He gently guided Soobin up, leading him to the bed where they both settled in, a comfortable silence wrapping around them. "Goodnight, Soobin," he murmured, his voice barely a whisper.

"Goodnight, Jun-ah," Soobin replied, his voice heavy with sleep. They lay close, falling into a warm, comforting embrace, drifting into sleep held in each other's arms.

The next few nights followed the same pattern, their studies often extending late into the night. But while Soobin had fallen asleep first before, it was Yeonjun's turn to reach his limit one night. Midway through solving a problem, Yeonjun's head dropped forward, his pen slipping from his hand as he succumbed to sleep. Soobin glanced over, a gentle smile tugging at his lips as he watched Yeonjun's peaceful expression.

Without a word, Soobin stood and walked over to Yeonjun, sliding his arms beneath him and lifting him up. Yeonjun's head lolled against Soobin's shoulder, his breathing soft and steady. Soobin carried him to the bed, his heart racing at the feeling of Yeonjun's warmth in his arms. He gently laid Yeonjun down, pulling the covers over him before slipping in beside him. Wrapping an arm around Yeonjun, he pulled him close, savoring the quiet intimacy of the moment.

"You're working so hard," Soobin whispered, caressing the smaller's hair. "I'm proud of you, Jun-ah."

Yeonjun stirred slightly, murmuring in his sleep, and instinctively shifted closer to Soobin. In that quiet moment, with only the sound of their breaths filling the room, Soobin felt a peace he hadn't known he'd been missing.

As each night passed, this routine became something they cherished, a ritual of quiet connection. They studied hard, exchanged glances over textbooks, and let their affection grow, unspoken but undeniably present. The weight of exams felt lighter when they had each other, and in the silent nights, wrapped in each other's arms, they knew they'd found a home in one another.

-----

The first day of mock exams had finally arrived. As Soobin and Yeonjun entered the school gates, their three friends tagged along, sending them off with encouraging words.

"Good luck with your test, Yeonjunnie-hyungie and Soobin-hyung!" Kai cheered, smiling brightly.

"Thanks, Kai," Yeonjun and Soobin replied in unison, both feeling a bit more confident with their friends' support.

Beomgyu squeezed Yeonjun's hand, adding, "Hyung, don't feel pressured. You're definitely going to ace this test!" Taehyun nodded and looked at Soobin, "You too, Soobin-hyung. You're going to top the whole class."

"Thanks, guys," Soobin replied with a small smile, feeling a surge of warmth at their friends' faith in them.

"Alright, it's time to go," Yeonjun said, waving to the three boys as he and Soobin made their way to the exam hall.

They took their seats, sitting a few rows apart, but they exchanged a glance, silently mouthing "fighting" to each other before the test started. The invigilator soon distributed the question papers, and the room fell silent as each student dove into their work.

-----

When the exam finally ended, Yeonjun stepped out of the classroom with a relieved sigh. "Finallyyyyyy..." he groaned, stretching his arms above his head.

Soobin approached him, a small smile on his face. "How did you write?" he asked.

"Too good," Yeonjun replied confidently before asking, "And you?"

"Good," Soobin replied, nodding. They both felt lighter, finally done with the first test and ready to unwind for a bit.

They made their way to the cafeteria, where they spotted Kai, Taehyun, and Beomgyu already digging into their lunch. The moment Beomgyu saw them, he jumped up from his seat and rushed over to Yeonjun.

"Hyunggggggg!" Beomgyu exclaimed, practically bouncing. "How did you write? Was the question paper easy, moderate, or hard? Did you attempt all the questions? Did you get stuck on any questions?" Beomgyu's questions poured out in rapid-fire succession as he shook Yeonjun's shoulders excitedly.

Yeonjun laughed, finally interrupting, "Gyu! Gyuu... Yes, I did well, the paper was moderate, I attempted almost all the questions, and I didn't get stuck on any. Okay?"

Their friends burst into laughter, watching as Beomgyu's excitement was matched by Yeonjun's patient response.

The group sat together, laughing and sharing stories as they ate. After their meal, Taehyun leaned forward, a sparkle in his eye. "We should plan a trip for this weekend. You two have been so focused on studying that we barely got to hang out!"

Kai nodded eagerly. "Yeah, a day to relax and enjoy. It's been a while since we did something fun together."

Yeonjun and Soobin exchanged a glance, both feeling guilty for how wrapped up they'd been in their studies. "Sounds perfect," Yeonjun agreed, a smile spreading across his face. "We could all use a break."

"Then it's settled!" Beomgyu exclaimed. "Sunday trip, here we come!"

End of Chapter 13

11/11/2024

to be continued...